Valparaiso sophomore libero Taylor
Root (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) has been named ‘The People’s Choice’ this week
on the Horizon League Network, and is currently spotlighted in a video on the
website via phone interview.

The Crusaders are no stranger
to earning ‘The People’s Choice’ honor, as five different Valpo athletes were
featured a total of six times last year in the feature’s inaugural year on
HLN. Root is now a three-time winner of
the honor after winning this year’s first weekly vote.

Root was eligible for the
distinction after being named Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts on
the court last week. The sophomore
averaged better than six digs a set and was named to the All-Tournament Team at
the Appalachian Invitational, helping the Crusaders to the tournament
victory. Root’s tournament culminated
with a career-best 35-dig effort in the championship match against the host
Mountaineers, the third-most digs in a four-set match in Valpo history.

In this week’s ‘The
People’s Choice’ video, Root chats with HLN’s Jaclyn Bevis about her mindset
entering her sophomore season and her increased aggression in the back
row. She also looks back on the pair of
tight matches against Eastern Kentucky and
Appalachian State to close last weekend’s tournament, as well as how losing the
opening match of the season actually helped this Crusader team. The interview closes with Root briefly
looking ahead to this weekend’s tournament at Bradley.